Agenda Item #13.4
For Council Meeting of: March 4, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DONTE WATSON, DIRECTOR
RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Recreation and Parks Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) authorize the submittal of an application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program for the improvement of Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park for $1,600,000 in grant funds; 2) authorize the City Manager to accept the grant, execute a grant contract and any amendments thereto, a deed restriction, any and all agreements, conservation easements and amendments thereto, and all other documents necessary for the completion of the design and construction of the park improvement project, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney; and 3) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to increase appropriations by the amount of the grant award.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approved resolution will authorize the Recreation and Parks Department of the City of Santa Rosa (City) to apply to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program and execute required documents to provide funding for construction of new park amenities planned for Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park (Project). Amenities in the grant proposal include play features, picnic areas, paths, and multi-use turf areas.
BACKGROUND
In 2022 the City of Santa Rosa received a grant award from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s (District) Matching Grant Program, in conjunction with the Santa Rosa Water Department, for land acquisition needed for construction of both the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project and Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park Improvement Project. In 2024 the City received another award through the same grant program in the amount of $1,550,000 toward master planning, design and construction of park improvements.
The concept plan for the Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park, proposed adjacent to the third and final segment of the Lower Colgan Creek restoration project, includes a variety of both active and passive recreational opportunities including play features, picnic areas and pathways with the specific character and combination of amenities to be determined through community input during the master planning process and refined in the design phase prior to construction. Master planning, design, permitting and construction of the park improvement project is estimated to cost $8,365,495.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On November 19, 2002, the City Council, by Resolution No. 25475, approved the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan includes a plan for restoration and enhancement of a portion of Colgan Creek in southwest Santa Rosa as well as the creation of a neighborhood park and pathway.
On August 19, 2003, the City Council, by Resolution No. 25745, authorized an application for a Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District Matching Grant for the acquisition of park/creek restoration land in southwest Santa Rosa. In 2008, the District awarded $336,940 for Phase I, acquisition of a 1.61-acre parcel. The acquisition occurred on June 27, 2007.
On September 21, 2010, the City Council, by Resolution No. 27736, adopted an updated mitigative negative declaration for the Colgan Creek Restoration and Neighborhood Park Project.
On June 21, 2022, the City Council, by Resolution No.RES-2022-127, authorized submittal of a grant application to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District in the amount of $1,500,000 for acquisition of land which allows for both construction of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project, and improvements at Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park.
On June 18, 2024, the Council by Resolution No. RES-2024-086, authorized the filing of a grant application for the design and construction of a portion of Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park with Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program for $1,550,000 and authorized execution of a Standard Agreement and authorized the City Manager to administer the grant.
ANALYSIS
The grant application to support construction of Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park will provide the remaining funding needed to complete the final construction of this new neighborhood park for the community. The park will complement the final phase of the creek restoration work and provide much needed access to open space for the neighborhood via the adjacent multi-use pathway that follows the creek.
The project site, Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park, was reviewed for competitiveness and meets the selection criteria of being located in a census tract determined to be a disadvantaged community and will include a strong component of community-based planning. Applications will also be evaluated using the criteria of developing a new park with outdoor recreation features to significantly increase the number of people that may be served.
If successful, the funds secured with this grant application for construction of new park amenities will be combined with Park Development Impact fees from the southwest quadrant (Zone 2) along with the previous matching grant award for master planning, design, and construction, and allow the City to complete the park project in its entirety. Construction of the park improvements could begin as early as 2027 subsequent to the completion of the creek restoration project scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
A Council resolution is required for an application to be deemed complete, and approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. If awarded, funds for the project will be provided in an amount not to exceed $1,600,000 from ORLP, which is 19% of the total estimated project cost of $8,365,495, the remainder of which will be matched by a combination of Park Development Impact (PDI) funds from Zone 2 and a $1,550,000 grant through the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program awarded in 2024. Approval of this resolution authorizes the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate the amount of the awarded grant funds from the General Fund to JL Key 09605 to complete the project. The General Fund will be reimbursed with the payment from the granting agency upon project completion.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Council finds that the proposed action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment, and that no further environmental review is required. The preparation of the Master Plan for the park will be reviewed under CEQA to determine that the project is consistent with the previously Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Colgan Creek Restoration and Neighborhood Park Project adopted in 2010.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Grant Contract Sample
Attachment 2 - Deed Restriction Sample
Resolution
PRESENTER
Jen Santos, Parks Deputy Director, Recreation and Parks Department
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PAGE 3 OF 3